Salted-Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookie’s

Only four more days until Valentine’s Day! I posted a quick and easy, eggless, no-bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Truffle recipe last week for those who love eating raw cookie dough. However, I had requests to post my Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, too. I had posted this recipe last summer, but I must admit, it needed an upgrade. So I researched and tested more recipes – and I found a great recipe you’ll LOVE!

For the last eight years I have followed Jaques Torres’ Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. At sea-level it’s great, but I still find that after 4 years in Colorado, my altered recipe for high-altitude is still a bit tricky. I still have memories of beautifully baked sea-level cookies, so when my cookies don’t always bake right at 6,100 feet, I truly get “pissed.”

So, now that I have requests for them, it was time to find and post a fail-proof recipe that could be easily altered for high-altitude. I knew exactly where to start my research for a new chocolate chip cookie recipe, Cook’s Illustrated.

And of course, the recipe adjusts beautifully. The recipe is simply genius. What makes this chocolate chip cookie so delicious is its rich toffee flavorthat comes from browning the butter, an added step but a step that must not be left out. Plus, the use of only one egg white and two yolks allows for a moister cookie. And the added bonus, it altered perfectly with only two adjustments for high-altitude; subtract 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and it’s perfect for mile-high dwellers. So, for your chocolate loving Valentine, like mine, try what I’ve called, “Salted-Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookie’s.”

A light sprinkling of flaky sea-salt is optional, but will add an added layer of flavor. Shape the cookies into heart-shapes immediately after removing them from the oven. Use two spatulas at the same time to squeeze the bottom of the cookie into a point and use the back of a spoon to make the dip for the top of heart.

I separated each dough ball into two parts and shaped into hearts. The dough will still spread into a round shape that somewhat looks like a heart, so you will need to shape the baked cookie into a heart immediately when it comes out of the oven. I used two spatula's to squeeze the bottom of the cookie into a point and pushed the heart crescent shape with the back of a spoon.

Step 7

Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving. Makes 18 cookies.